Nursery tag mounting device



A. P. BRILL. JR

NURSERY TAG MOUNTING DEVICE Aug. 29, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan.20, 1966 m s \\\\\\\\\l Alfred P Bri/l, Jr

@d/away 5mm m. .mi

Aug. 29, 1967 A. P. BRILL, JR

NURSERY TAG MOUNTING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 20, 1966 AlfredR Bri/l, Jr.

INVENTOR.

BY WWW 19m.,

Aug. 29. 1967 A. P. BRILL, JR

NURSERY TAG MOUNTING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 20, 1966 UnitedStates Patent O 3,337,932 NURSERY TAG MOUNTING DEVICE Alfred P. Brill,P.0. Box 35, Lake Shore Drive, Canal Point, Fla. 33438 Filed Jan. 20,1966, Ser. No. 521,859 11 Claims. (Cl. 29-21.1)

The instant invention is broadly concerned with the mounting ofidentifying tags on rod-like objects, and more directly relates to adevice or tool which, from a mounted roll of tag material, advances apredetermined portion of the material into encircling relationship abouta rod-like member, punch locks the encircling material and severs alength of material sufiiciently greater than the encircling portionthereof so as to enable the provision of an identifying title or thelike thereon.

While the device of the instant invention can be used to tag anyrelatively slender rod-like member, it is contemplated that it findparticular utilization in tagging nursery stock. Thus, it is aparticularly significant object of the instant invention to provide adevice which is compact, easy to carry and operate, and contains its ownsupply of tag-forming material.

Another significant object of the instant invention is to provide adevice which provides trouble-free operation.

Basically, the device of the instant invention is to include a tapeadvancing unit for progressively moving a strip of tape from a supplyroll to and about a branch cradled within the forward portion of thedevice, means for effecting a punch locking of the tape about thebranch, and means for severing a portion of the secured tape of a lengthsufficient so as to enable the provision of suitable identificationmarks thereon.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the device comprising the instantinvention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through the device;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on aplane passing along line 4-4 in FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and illustrating the tape in itsadvanced limb-encircling position;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURES 3 and 5 illustrating the manner inwhich the tape is cut and locked to the limb;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken substantially on line7-7 in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 8 is a partial perspective view illustrating the type of mountedtag produced by a manipulation of the device of the instant invention.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 isused to generally designate the nursery tag mounting device comprisingthe instant invention. The device 10 is constructed on an elongatedbasic frame 12 including a hollow rectangular rear portion 14 and anupwardly opening forward channel-shaped portion 16 defined by anintegral continuation of the bottom of the A edges thereof to a pointapproaching the forward ex- 3,337,932 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 tubularportion 14 and `approximately one-half of each of the side wallsthereof.

Aixed to the opposite sides of the tubular portion 14 adjacent the rearend thereof are a pair of -upwardly and rearwardly enlarged arcuatemounting plates 18 which receive a removable mounting pin 20therebetween, this pin in turn mounting a roll or coil of the material,generally thin strip aluminum, from which the individual tags 22 are tobe formed. The elongated strip of severable 'material has been indicatedby reference numeral 24.

The strip 24 is fed olf the roll or coil and through the tubular portion14 which is provided with an elongated internal guiding block 26. Thisguide block 26, as will be appreciated from the cross-sectional views,has a tapered lower guiding surface 28 converging forwardly toward thebottom or base of the elongated frame member 12. In this manner, it willbe noted that a relatively wide mouth 30 is provided so as to facilitatethe insertion of the leading end of the strip 24 with the guide channelprogressively decreasing toward the base along which the strip 24 is toslide so as to provide for a flat positioning of the strip 24 on thebottom of the frame member 12. Further, it will be noted that the rearlower corner 32 of the guiding block 26 is rounded so as to form asmooth surface over which the strip 24 can easily pass.

As the strip 24 passes into the channel portion 16 of the frame member12, it passes under a block 34 which extends between the side walls ofthe channel portion 16 and acts so as to 4further guide the strip 24.

The base of the frame member 12 is rigidified along the length thereofby an elongated rectangular bar 36 fixed thereto in any suitable mannersuch as by welding. This reinforcing bar 36 terminates at the forwardend of the channel-shaped portion 16. As the strip 24 of the tag-formingmaterial moves forwardly, in a manner which shall be describedpresently, the leading end thereof moves out of the forward portion 16and continues along an upwardly and rearwardly curving arcuate pathdefined by the curved forward portion 38 of a forming member or shoe 40bolted to the lower face of the reinforcing bar 36 in a manner so as toposition the arcuate portion 38 thereof forwardly of the point at whichthe strip 24 discharges from the frame member 12, this being clearlyapparent from the drawings. It will be noted that the outer reverselydirected end 42 of the reversely curving pori tion 38 is spaced from theremainder of the shoe for a sufficient distance so as to allow theportion 38 to be easily hooked about a branch or other rod-like member44.

Aflixed to opposite sides of the channel-shaped portion 16 of the framemember 12 by any suitable fastening portion 38 of the shoe 40,terminating in a Vertical edgeV at substantially the forward end of theframe member 12 with the lower portions of these panels continuingforwardly so as to engage the shoe 40 along the opposite tremity of thearcuate portion 38, thereby effectively stabilizing and rigidfying thisportion while not interfering with the access thereto in light of therelatively short height of these forward projecting portions.

The advance of the tape 24 is effected by an advancing block 48 having arubber gripping face thereon. This block 48 rests on top of the uppersurface of the strip 24 between the side panels 46 and is controlledthrough a pair of rigid elongated links 50 pivotally pinned, as by pin52, to the opposite sides of the block 48 through elongated guide slots53 in the opposite side panels 46 paralleling the base of the framemember 12 -above the short side walls of the channel portion 16. Theelongated links 50 are in turn pivotally connected, at their upper ends,by pin 55 to a pair of elongated generally vertical links 54 whichstraddle and are pivotally secured to the opposite sides of the framemember 12, -as at 56. The lower ends of the elongated links 54 arepivotally engaged, through short conecting links 58, to the upper end ofa movable linger-receiving handgrip 60 which in turn has the lower endthereof pivotally engaged, as at 62, with the lower end of a fixedhandle portion 64 rigid with the base-reinforcing bar 36 and dependingtherefrom. It will be noted that the inner edge of the movable handleportion 60 is recessed as at 66 so as to be telescopically received overthe forward edge of the fixed handle portion 64. Through this structure,it will be appreciated that as the handle portion 60 is moved toward thefixed handle portion 64, the block 48, through the links 50, 54 and 58,will bear against the strip 24 and urge the strip along a sliding pathon the base of the frame member 12, the block 48 being guided by theelongated opposed slots 53 through which the pivot pin 52 passes. It iscontemplated that two to three squeezes on the handle be sutlicient soas to advance the strip 24 forwardly about the arcuate shoe portion 38and into the position generally indicated in FIGURE about the branch 44.i

The tag 22 is formed from the advanced portion of the strip 24 byforming a lock tab within the material itself utilizing the portionsthereof overlapped rearward of the twig 44 and severing the strip at apoint rearward of the tab lock sufficient so as to provide space for theprovision of suitable identification thereon. The forming of the locktab 68 is effected by an elongated punch 70. The punch'or punch member70 includes an elongated cylindrical rod 72, a rectangular shaft portion74 fixed rigid with the forward end of the rod 72, and a punch blade 76xed to the forward end of the shaft portion 74. The rod portion 72 isreceived centrally through an enlarged rectangular sleeve 78 fixedbetween the vertical side panels 46 along the rear portion of the upperedges thereof and following the angle of the inclined upper edges ofthese side walls 46. The rear end 80 of the sleeve 78 is partiallyclosed, having only a concentric aperture therethrough suiicient so asto slidably receive the rod 70. An enlarged collar 82 is fixed to therod 72 within the sleeve 78 and defines an abutment against which anexpanded coil compression spring 84 bears, the rear end of the spring 84bearing against the partially closed end 80 of the sleeve 78, therebybiasing the punch or punch member 70 forwardly.

The rectangular shaft portion 74 is positioned within and slidablyguided by a correspondingly shaped rectangular passage 86 within asleeve 88 mounted, through mounting enlargements or blocks 90, betweenthe side walls or panels 46 in alignment with the sleeve 78. It will beappreciated that the mating nature of the rectangular shaft portion 74andthe rectangular passage 86 eliminates any tendency for or possibilityof the punch 70 rotating out of position.

The punch blade 76 is rectangular in cross section and slightly narrowerthan the shaft portion 74. In addition, in order to form the desiredcurled or coiled lock tab 68 as illustrated in FIGURE 6, the lower edge92 of the blade 76 is beveled lforwardly so as to define a piercingpoint or edge 94. This piercing edge 94, in conjunction with the beveledlower surface 92, is introduced below the leading end 42 of the arcuateportion 38 of the shoe 40 and pierces the overlying layers of the sheetmaterialj24, the arcuate portion 38 of the shoe 40 of course including aslightly elongated rectangular opening 96 therethrough which allows forthe passage of the blade 76 so as to eiect the desired tab folding. Inactual operation, the pointed edge 94 will pierce the double layer ofsheet -material or tape and continue forwardly through the rectangularaperture 96 while the beveled lower edge 92 of the blade shears theopposite sides of the tab from the main sheet, cooperating with thevertical sides of the opening 96, and rolls the tab into a tight coil ofmaterial against the lower edge of the opening 96, as indicated byreference numeral 68 in FIGURE 6. In this manner, the two layers of thesheet material are iixedly interlocked into a loop-defining relationshipwhich encircles the limb 44.

The punch 70 is cocked by retracting it against the biasing force of thespring 84 through the rear mounted grip 98 which in turn is providedwith a cushion 100 just forward thereof for cushioning the engagementwith the partially closed rear end 80 of the sleeve 78. The selectivemaintaining of the punch or punch member 70 in its retracted or cockedposition is effected through the engagement of a lug 102 within a notch104 in the lower surface of the rod section 72k just rearward of theshaft portion 74.

The lug 102 is bolted, through a laterally directed leg 106, to a sleevemember 108 which slidably receives the elongated trigger rod 110 and inturn pivotally mounts the trigger rod 110 between and to the oppositewall panels 46 by oppositely directed pivot pins 112. The forward end ofthe trigger rod 110, having a beveled lower surface as does the sleeve108 so as to allow for free movement of the pusher block 48, is biaseddownwardly to a position just clearing the block 48 by a coiledcornpression spring 114 engaged about a central stub 116 on the block 34and projecting thereabove for engagement of the upper end thereof withina spring-retaining recess 118 on a block 120. This block 120 in turnslidably receives the rod 110 rearward of the pivot point thereof. Thus,it will be appreciated that upon a downward pivoting of the rear end ofthe trigger rod 110 against the biasing force of the spring 114, the lug102 will disengage from the notch 104 and allow a forward pressurizeddriving of the punching member 70. The depression of the trigger rod 110will of course take place after a suicient amount of the tape 24 hasbeen advanced so as to encircle the limb or branch 44.

It is also contemplated that the tag portion 22 of the tape besimultaneously severed along with the formation of the locking tab 68.Accordingly, a blade mounting member 122 is pivotally mounted betweenthe -walls 46 forward of the forward end of the trigger rod 110. Thismounting member 122 includes `a portion thereof rearward of the pivotpoint 124 which overlies the forward end of the rod 110 and which isbiased downwardly thereagainst by leaf spring 126 engaged between therear portion of the member 122 and a superjacent mounting block 90 forthe sleeve 88. The cutting blade 128 is itself mounted on the forwardend of the member 122 forward of the pivot point 124 in any suitablemanner so as to depend therebelow for cutting engagement with the tape24 as the member 122 pivots through a *raising of the rear end thereofby the raising forward end of the trigger rod 110 when effecting awithdrawal of the lug 102. Once the trigger rod 110 is released, thisbeing subsequent to the forming of the locking tab 68 and the thetrigger rod 110 and engaged between the block 120 and a pair ofoppositely directed stubs 132 fixed to the rod 110 at a point therealongcontemplated so as to engage against a pair of wear plates 134 fixed tothe forward edge of each of the substantially vertical links 54. In thismanner the links 54, above the pivot point 56, are biased rearwardly soas to elfect a forward biasing of the movable handle portion 60. Theblock 120 can be retained in position against the force of the spring130 either by the lateral stability of the spring 114 or by guide pins,not shown, received through arcuate generally vertical slots in theopposed side panels 46.

It will be noted that inasmuch as, in the at-rest position, the links 54are orientated substantially vertically, the forward movement of theupper ends thereof pivoted to the links 50 will be at a slight downwardangle so as to tend to force the pushing or advancing block 48downwardly against the tape 24 into frictional engagement therewith. Bythe same token, the rearward movement of the links 50 and 54, under theinuence of the biasing spring 130, is such so as to cause a slightraising of the block 48 so as to not produce a rearward movement of thetape 24, the height of the guide slots 53 being suicient to accommodatethis slight vertical play or movement of the block 48. With regard tothe rearward movement of the block 48, as will be appreciated fromFIGURES 3 and 6, this movement can be limited by engagement of the block48 against the mounting block 34, or by engagement of the pivot pin 52with the rear limit of the slots 53. Further, although not specicallyset forth supra, it will be noted that the mounting block 34, referringto FIGURE 7, can be fixed into position by a pair of oppositely directedbolts 136 extending inwardly through the opposed side panels 46 andchannel portion walls.

In operation, after loading a coil of tag-forming tape material 24 onthe device and feeding the leading end thereof through the frame member12 and along the base thereof to a point just forward of the advancingblock 48, the device is manipulated so as to position a rod-like member,such as for example a plant or tree branch or stem 44, Within thereversely curving hook-like portion 38. Next, the movable handle portion60 is manipulated approximately two times so as to advance the tape 24into a looped configuration about the twig 44 as illustrated in FIGURE5. Next, the rear end of the trigger rod 110 is depressed so as towithdraw the lug 102 and release the punch 70. Upon lrelease, the punchmember 70 is driven forward with the punch blade 76 piercing theoverlapped layers of the tape and forming a tab lock therein so as tolock the forward portion of the tape to the twig 44. At the same time,the member 122 is pivoted so as to effect, through the cutting blade128, a severing of the tape 24 rearward of the looped portion thereof,thereby providing a length upon which the identification of the rodlikemember 44 can be imprinted in any suitable manner. Once the tape hasbeen severed by the cutting blade 128, the trigger rod 110 is releasedwith this rod 110, the cutting blade mounting member 122, and themovable handle portion 60 being automatically biased into their at-restpositions. The punch member 70 is manually retracted through thegripping handle 98. Upon retraction of the punch member 70, the deviceis simply manipulated so as to disengage the tagged branch 44 from thehooked portion 38, thus leaving the device free for the hanging ofanother tag.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe inveniton to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A strip tag mounting device comprising a frame, means on said `framefor selectively advancing a predetermined amount of strip material,means on said frame for forming the advanced strip material into anobject encircling shape with a leading portion of the.

strip material overlying a portion of the strip material rearwardthereof, means on said frame for fixing the overlying portions ofmaterial to each other in their object encircling shape, and means onsaid frame for severing the strip material at a predetermined distancefrom the encircling portion.

2. The device of claim 1 including means on said frame for mounting aselectively dispensable supply of strip material.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said frame includes an elongated stripmaterial receiving and guiding base extending from the supply mountingmeans to the forming means, said forming means comprising a reverselycurving continuation of the material guiding base, the extreme end ofwhich overlies and is spaced from the guiding base.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said material ixing means comprises alock forming material piercing and bending member selectively introducedinto said curving continuation through the space between the extreme endof the curving continuation and the guiding base, said continuationhaving a forming aperture defined therein for reception of andcooperation with the lock forming member.

5. The device of claim 4 including means resiliently biasing said lockforming member toward the curving continuation, restraining meansengaged with said lock forming member and preventing movement thereofunder the influence of the biasing means, and release means forselectively releasing said restraining means, said release means beingoperatively associated with said material severing means for effecting asubstantial simultaneous release of the restraining means and actuationof the material severing means.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the strip material advancing meansincludes an advancing member overlying the material receiving base, andmeans engaged with said advancing member for selectively moving saidadvancing member downwardly toward said base and forwardly therealong.

7. The device of claim 6 including means resiliently biasing saidadvancing member rearwardly along said base.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said means for selectively moving saidadvancing member comprises at least one elongated rigid link pivotallyengaged with said advancing member and projecting rearwardly andupwardly therefrom, a second rigid elongated link pivotally engaged withthe upper end of said first link and depending therefrom below saidframe, means pivotally engaging an intermediate portion of said secondlink with said frame, and handle means associated with the lower end ofsaid second link for effecting a pivotal movement thereof.

9. The device of claim 3 wherein the strip material advancing meansincludes an advancing member overlying the material receiving base, andmeans engaged with said advancing member for selectively moving saidadvancing member downwardly toward said base and forwardly therealong.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said means for selectively moving saidadvancing member comprises at least one elongated rigid link pivotallyengaged with said advancing member and projecting rearwardly andupwardly therefrom, a second rigid elongated link pivotally engaged withthe upper end of said rst link and depending therefrom below said frame,means pivotally engaging an intermediate portion of said second linkwith said frame, and handle .means associated with the lo'wer end ofsaid second link for electing a pivotal movement thereof.

11. The device of claim 5 wherein said release means comprises anelongated rodV overlying the frame base, means pivotally mounting saidrod at an intermediate point thereof for movement of the opposite endsof the rod in opposite directions in a plane toward and away from saidbase, said material severing means including a pivotally mounted memberhaving one end engaged 10 movement of the second end of the pivotallymounted Y rod.

No references cited.

RICHARD H. EANES, JR., Primary Examiner.

1. A STRIP TAG MOUNTING DEVICE COMPRISING A FRAME, MEANS ON SAID FRAMEFOR SELECTIVELY ADVANCING A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT OF STRIP MATERIAL,MEANS ON SAID FRAME FOR FORMING THE ADVANCED STRIP MATERIAL INTO ANOBJECT ENCIRCLING SHAPE WITH A LEADING PORTION OF THE STRIP MATERIALOVERLYING A PORTION OF THE STRIP MATERIAL REARWARD THEREOF, MEANS ONSAID FRAME FOR FIXING THE OVERLYING PORTIONS OF MATERIAL TO EACH OTHERIN THEIR OBJECT ENCIRCLING SHAPE, AND MEANS ON SAID FRAME FOR SEVERINGTHE STRIP MATERIAL AT A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM THE ENCIRCLINGPORTION.